Title: Kingdom of the Wicked
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Type: Fiction
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical, Paranormal
Publisher: JIMMY Patterson
(Hachette Book Group)
Date published: October 27, 2020

A complimentary physical copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Two sisters.

One brutal murder.

A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself…

And an intoxicating romance.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems…

⤖ My Review ⬻

I have read all of Kerri Maniscalco’s other books and would definitely consider myself a fan! So, it should come as no surprise that I was super excited when Kingdom of the Wicked was announced. Yes, I will always miss Audrey Rose and Thomas from her Stalking Jack the Ripper series, but I was also excited to dive into a whole new world with new characters, new plot, etc.

And I was not disappointed. Maniscalco took us with her to the streets of Sicily in the 1800s, and I swear that I could almost smell and hear the sights and sounds! Everything was very effectively described, and I definitely found myself get lost in the pages of Kingdom of the Wicked with ease.

I really liked the characters and found them to be quite believable. There was also an air of mystery over everyone and the plot itself as a whole, which I definitely enjoyed. Aside from the mystery, there was also this certain atmosphere in Sicily–especially the scenes taking place at night or in dark nooks. I was almost envisioning a mist being everywhere, adding to this spooky, historical vibe.

The romance was also fun to read about, and I look forward to seeing that sub-plot develop in the next book! I also look forward to new settings and characters in the next book. I’m so so so excited for it (Kingdom of the Cursed comes out October 26 and I’m so pumped! They also already revealed the cover which I think might be a hint for the atmosphere we can expect). I recommend this book and Kerri Maniscalco in general, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!

⤖ About the Author ⬻

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats. Her first novel in this series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It incorporates her love of forensic science and unsolved history. For more information, visit Kerri online at her website, her Facebook page, her Twitter, and her Instagram!

⤖ Places to Purchase the Book ⬻

⤖ Let’s Chat ⬻

Thank you for reading my review! Have you read this book? What did you think? And if you haven’t read it, do you want to? How come? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!